My family celebrates the new year in a rather delicious way. Zelnik is a pastry made with eggs and sirene cheese. It represents our culture and our religion which we celebrate. My family is Eastern Orthodox Christian so we celebrate Christmas every year on January 7th. All of Macedonia celebrates by creating this amazing dish for the whole family.  My parents are from Macedonia located in the Balkan Peninsula. We always celebrate with our families.The catch is there is a coin somewhere in the pie. It symbolizes good luck to the person who finds it, for the new year. Whoever gets this coin will have a good year which is true as for the most part when anyone got the coin, the new year was good for them. I was skeptical if it was true, but getting the coin based on luck really stirs within one that whoever gets it will have God’s luck on having a good year. My grandmother is the one who takes charge and makes the Zelnik each year. To this day I don't know how she does it but it always tastes amazing! My grandmother would always try and explain to me that it works. Food and music are in our blood and culture which brings our family together, which migrated with my family to the USA. Finally, now I fully understand the purpose of Zelnik and its importance in which it holds.

– Mario I.

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant